Cape Hatteras KOA
The Outer Banks! If you’ve never been, you’ve got to put it on the list. Fishing, kitesurfing, sight-seeing, and good ol’ fashioned beach camping on steroids! Not to mention the historical richness of the surrounding areas.
First things first, lets talk campground…
Maria and I stayed at this campground last year in November and after seeing all the awesome kid-friendly things to do, we just had to bring Juliana and my niece and nephew. This time we settled for September during the KOA Members Appreciation event, so we could get a free night! My parents and grandmother (Memaw) came along as well, renting one of the 6-person cabins with the bathroom and kitchenette. The kids crashed in the two sets of bunk beds while the adults took the queen bed and sleeper sofa.
As far as campground amenities go, this was a topnotch resort style KOA with enough activities to keep kids occupied for even a lengthy stay. We kept ours to a four day weekend and the kids were totally bummed when it was time to go home. The large pool, jump pillow and nightly “train” ride kept them so busy that we probably wouldn’t have had to leave the campground our entire stay if we didn’t want to. The playgrounds, smores night and Saturday’s surprise glow train were just added bonuses to our fun. Our campsite was only a couple rows away from both my parents’ place, and the bathhouse. Our site was level and not at all spacious, but I guess that comes with the territory... September is still mosquito season, so buckle up lol. I felt like I had lost a pint of blood before the trip was over.
As for fishing… grab your bait and tackle and walk right out onto the beach using either the stair access or the ramp. Find a pocket and start slaying. The Outer Banks happen to be THE CLOSEST LAND AREA IN NORTH AMERICA to the Gulf Stream. Yessir. So come prepared with your drum rigs, paddle tails, buck tails and spoons. There are several local bait shops nearby to get fresh mullet and whatever odds and ends you need to restock. The blues, drums and spanish mackerel await! Take a look at the spanish my dad caught on a golden spoon - second cast!
While you’re in the OBX, you’ve got to take a little bit of time to explore the rich history of the area. You’ve got ol’ Wilbur and Orville Wright in Kitty Hawk, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Roanoke Island (home to the Lost Colony) and four beautiful lighthouses to visit. The kids’ favorite thing was Jockey’s Ridge State Park - a 420 acre park comprised primarily of the tallest sand dunes in the Eastern US. If adventuring into what looks like the mouth of the Sarlacc Pit (for all my Star Wars fans) sounds like a good time to you, put it on the list. Giant dunes of sand bottoming out into big valleys of sand, surrounded by evermore sand and scrubby trees and bushes... It might occur to you that this giant litter box is the perfect place to learn to hang glide. Ah… what is this? A hang gliding school right at the entrance of the park?! Huzzah!
Hang gliding aside, your kids will definitely feel like real explorers and you will definitely have a great time watching them dive face first over a 100’ mountain of sand, as they roll down the dunes like those dung beetles on Nat Geo.
Now, we can’t forget to take advantage of the edumacational activities around the OBX. You can hit up the aquarium on Roanoke Island, you can check out the historic town of Manteo, you can drive around to all the lighthouses, and you can even see an exact replica of the world’s first successful airplane at the Wright Brother’s Monument in Kitty Hawk. Being pressed for time, we chose the last activity. The experience came replete, with a park ranger providing an oral history lesson of the Wright Brother’s first flight. My sister, a 4th grade teacher, tagged along with us during our excursions and I think the little classroom experience was her favorite part. Nerd… Just kidding!
Now, even if none of this sounds even remotely interesting to you, it doesn’t matter. You should visit the outer banks for the peace and serenity of its beaches and almost fantasy-like landscapes. Early fall and late spring are great times to avoid the crowds, but still have sunbathing temps and long enough days to enjoy the scenery. Kick back, relax and take in the beauty of a little slice of God’s creation.
